Oster Prank Backfires

By: Dan Humphrey
Date: 26/04/2002

FORMER Mariners' winger John Oster is in the news for the wrong reasons this week, after accidentally shooting a fellow Sunderland reserve team player in the face.

21 year old midfielder Mark Maley has undergone an eye operation following the incident - when Oster, apparently by accident, fired an airgun pellet into his teammate's eye.

A spokesperson for the Wearside club said "it was an unfortunate accident as neither player believed that their air pistol was loaded. John Oster deeply regrets the incident.''

Oster, who was a key part of the Mariners fight against relegation in the 1996-97 season, was linked with a return to Blundell Park earlier this season, before suffering a serious knee injury when playing for the Wearsiders reserves against Manchester United reserves. His career at Sunderland has ground to a halt following the signings of the likes of Julio Arca, Kevin Kilbane and Jason McAteer. This latest incident is unlikely to have improved his chances of a long-term future at the Stadium of Light or to have impressed the Wales manager Mark Hughes. In other Mariners-related news, this Sunday sees former team-mates Gary Croft and Peter Handyside set to play against each other, as Lennie Lawrence's Cardiff City travel to Stoke on Sunday for the Division 2 play-off Semi Final first leg.

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